Mike Harris fought on the frontlines in Vietnam with the Navy Mobile Riverine Force. He struggled for many
years following his traumatic combat experiences. Nothing seemed to
work. Evolution was but a "Theory" and he didn't buy it.
He resigned to the fact that he was going to die and rot in the
grave.

Mike Harris

For years Mike turned everyway but towards
God. He resisted the Creator and fought against those who tried to convey
the "Good News". "Religion" was not for him.

One day in January 1981 Mike was so
estranged from people and lonely that he decided to confront God. He
yelled, "If you are real then make yourself real to me." Nothing
happened so he continued on down the dead end road.

Four days later Mike was sitting at his
dining room table when God, his Maker, spoke to him in what he now realizes as
his "spirit". God said, "Flush your drugs down the
toilet!". Mike responded with, "What about Randy? He uses
them too." God then said, "He doesn't need them either.
Flush them down the toilet!" Out of simple obedience Mike began
gathering up his street drugs. It took over an hour for him to flush them
all as instructed. This was his new beginning.

After years of searching the Holy Scriptures
and finding solace in the Godhead, Mike came to a juncture in his life where he
wanted to reach out to his fellow veterans with the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. He searched everywhere, but could not find an avenue.
Starting up a ministry seemed too complicated to him.

One day Mike tuned in to Dr. James Dobson's
"Focus on the Family" radio program. Much to his surprise Mr.
Dobson was talking to four Vietnam veteran pastors about their experiences in
Vietnam. At the end of the program Mike jotted down a phone number for
"Point Man International Ministries" (PMIM).

As soon as the program was over Mike called
the main PMIM office. Chuck Dean, the Executive Director, answered the
phone. Mike asked about getting an affiliate application to start an
"Outpost" in the Coos Bay/North Bend area. Chuck not only sent
the package, but he also send the "NamVet; Making Peace With Your
Past" book that he had authored.

Mike could not put the book down. He
read it from front to back in one sitting. It was as if the book was
written about him. He could see clearly for the first time since Vietnam
that he had been, and was, suffering from "Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder" (PTSD). Chuck lined out ways to begin seeking God's help in
dealing with the disorder.

Soon Mike's application to begin an Outpost
was approved. He was given "Outpost 101". All that was
required was to be available to veterans and lend an ear. Mike set out to
do some public relations work to try to not only draw in hurting veterans, but
to also woo Christian veterans to assist him in the new ministry.

Finally it was time for the first official
meeting. Someone granted him the favor to use a room at Blossom Gulch
Grade School. Not long after 7 PM Hank Elsworth, U.S. Army Signal Corps in
Vietnam, showed up. Then
another gentleman named John Schwenzfeier, a USAF Vietnam Veteran, joined them. God had been
gracious to provide the beginning of the "core" that Mike had been praying for.

Hank Elsworth

Later Hank would share that his pastor had
asked him to go check "Mike" and "Point Man" out to see if
it was a legitimate ministry. Needless to say, it all turned out
favorable.

A sprinkling of Vietnam veterans began
attending sporadically. Some real healing was witnessed by the
leadership.

Soon Mike's wife, Connie, started a "Homefront"
ministry for the wives and children of the veterans. It gave them the
opportunity to learn how to cope with what their husband's were dealing
with. Potlucks were held about once a month for everyone to get together
for fellowship.

Two years later Mike felt a
"calling" for he and Connie to move to the Seattle area to work
fulltime at the PMIM Headquarters office. It was a difficult time because
Mike had just built them a new home in Coos Bay. God's guidance prevailed
and they moved to Clearview, Washington in June 1990. Mike and Connie
would later serve five years on the foreign mission field in S.E. Asia from
January 1992 to March 1997. Their target country was communist Laos.

Hank volunteered to take over as Outpost
Leader in Mike's absence. The meetings continued on into the 1990's.
Hank told Mike later that it was "me and God" at many meetings.
John would attend when he could. Hank's faithfulness eventually paid
divine dividends. Hurting men would come for ministry and the group began
to build.

When Mike returned from the foreign mission
field Hank attempted to turn the ministry back over to him. Mike reassured
Hank that the "mantle" was his to carry and that he would support him
in any what he could.

In 2012 Hank and his wife, Georgie, moved
to Milwaukee, Oregon so they could be closer to their family.

At that time Mark Winders, USMC Amtracs
in Vietnam, took over as our local Point Man 101 Outpost Leader. Brother
Mark helped grown the outreach through his faith and perseverance from 2012-2015
following several years of participation. In 2015 he and his wife, Libbie,
chose to move to Arizona due to Libbie's ongoing health problems. We will
miss them dearly, but we also know that they are near in spirit and just a phone
call away.

PMIM has moved on from just ministering to Vietnam
veterans. Now the ministry is open to ALL veterans. A good rapport
has been forged with the communities of the Southern Oregon coast through the
past 18 years. Outpost 101 also has developed good relationships with
other veteran organizations in the area.

We involved with Point Man Outpost 101 have been
blessed and are more than willing to bless others by God's divine grace.
Our meetings are held at 7 PM every Tuesday evening in the basement of the
Foursquare Church, 5th and Donnelly, in Coos Bay. Feel free to stop by and
enjoy the fellowship of other veterans who have been in like situation that you
have been. The coffee is always hot.